Buena Vista University Launches TruePromise
STORM LAKE, IA – Starting in Fall 2016, all incoming first-year Buena Vista University (BVU) Storm Lake campus students will be eligible for BVU’s new TruePromise program, which promises three important outcomes to students and parents.
TruePromise is a formal promise to students that they will locate a meaningful internship, earn a degree in at least one major within four years and secure a job or entrance to graduate or professional school within six months of graduation.
“TruePromise allows us to focus on student success now more than ever before and further nurture students’ passions into life-fulfilling and rewarding careers,” says BVU President Fred Moore. “Whether students are immersed in the world of business, education, science or other fields, TruePromise ensures that BVU can challenge higher-level thinking skills, build unforgettable experiences and promise success for all.”
TruePromise was developed to help students and their families address concerns about college affordability and their expectations regarding the value of a college degree. By promising graduation in four years, BVU is decreasing the overall time and costs associated with earning a degree.
“A college education is a worthwhile investment, and making sure you can get a return on that investment — the best college experience possible and the best start to your future — is an important part of determining where to make that investment,” says Moore.
BVU’s responsibilities are three-fold to match each promise within TruePromise. If a student does not find an external internship, BVU will arrange an on-campus internship within the student’s area of interest. If a student does not graduate within four years, due to the number of courses required, BVU will fund tuition for an additional semester at BVU. If a student does not secure a job or enter graduate or professional school after graduation, BVU will fund one semester of classes toward a BVU master’s degree or toward extra BVU coursework, chosen by the student, in order to improve his or her resume.
“This is a promise made between the university and the student. We both have to do our part to uphold the promise,” says Moore. “If the university offers students the opportunities to achieve these three promises, and the student does his or her part to fulfill the benchmarks, then the student should achieve these milestones. If that does not happen, BVU is stepping up to make good on the promise.”
The student benchmarks needed to remain eligible for TruePromise were purposefully kept simple and easy for students to track. They also echo practices that help to create an environment of academic success for students. Some of the benchmarks include collaborating with an advisor to create a four-year plan during the first semester, completing 60 academic credit hours by the end of the sophomore year and meeting with career and personal development staff during fall of senior year to discuss career or graduate school plans.
Additional information about TruePromise can be found at www.bvu.edu/promise.
About Buena Vista University
Founded in 1891, Buena Vista University delivers 40 majors and 15 pre-professional programs that blend liberal arts with real-world experiences, preparing students for lifelong success, especially in the areas of elementary, secondary, and special education; business and accounting; and biological and chemical sciences. BVU stands behind its students and their degrees with TruePromise, which promises that students will locate a meaningful internship, earn at least one major within four years, and secure a job or entrance to graduate/professional school within six months of graduation. BVU is an affordable option for all students and, combined with its academic programs, has led U.S. News & World Report to rank BVU as the third best value school among Midwest Regional Colleges. Visit www.bvu.edu.